Monday, 16 November 2009

Monday 16 November

Overcast this morning, with the odd spot of rain. The sun is putting in a very watery appearance through thickening cloud; a batch of rain is lurking off the west coast. On Wednesday, an intense area of low pressure will bring us gales.

Was out at Goat Island this morning to photograph a live fish carrier which went up on the slipway for maintenance. The Ronja Carrier takes smolts (young salmon) to fishfarms for growing and fattening. There are several Ronja's up and down the west coast; the Ronja Pioneer is a regular visitor at Stornoway.
Tropical cyclone Anja is making a magnificent sight on the satellite pictures. Sited in the southern Indian Ocean, it is equivalent in strength to a category III hurricane. This storm is at least 500 miles from any land, and is not expected to make landfall. By Wednesday, it will lose strength and be swept away towards Australia in the mid-latitude westerly airflow.